WELSH Paralympic sailor, Stephen Thomas, helped launch the first ISPS HANDA PGA Academy workshop in Wales, the start of a programme being rolled out across the nation.

The launch was at Celtic Manor, the host venue for the Wales Open from August 29-September 1, with all nine PGA golf club professionals involved getting funding for continuing beginner coaching through Golf Development Wales.

They will set up regular and sustainable coaching opportunities within their club, schools and/or communities.

Individuals who want to try golf will then be signposted towards the trained professionals.

Golf Development Wales are now included in the INSPORT programme from Disability Sport Wales, which will support the governing body in developing inclusive provision, opportunity and practices which will ensure that disabled people gain access to the level of participation/performance they require.

Great work is already being done in Wales – one example is Glyn Abbey near Llanelli, where they are helping 120 children with learning disabilities from nine local schools to learn to play golf.

“This is an important scheme that can have a real impact, we are delighted to be able to support these golf professionals as they take their lessons back to their respective clubs,” said Zoe Thacker, from Golf Development Wales.

Thomas, who has represented the Paralympics GB team at four consecutive Paralympic Games, was present to observe PGA tutors, Craig Thomas and Mark Taylor, deliver an inclusive coaching workshop to the nine Welsh PGA pros at the Celtic Manor Golf Academy, one of the finest equipped golf academies in Europe.

The ground breaking initiative, backed by ISPS chairman and leading Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa is enabling these newly-trained PGA professionals to provide a thousand free golf lessons for blind and disabled golfers, equipping them with the skills needed to specialise in giving high quality coaching sessions to golfers with disabilities.

“It’s great to see an initiative that is designed to give more people the chance of taking up sport,” said Stephen Thomas, who is a double below the knee amputee as a result of meningitis in 1996.

“Obviously I’m used to being on water, but I also play ice sledge hockey, so golf is something I’m really keen to get into.

“Hopefully one day it will be in the Paralympics, it’s a global sport so why shouldn’t it be.

“It’s great to know specialist tuition for blind and disabled golfers is becoming more and more readily available through the PGA Academy Programme.”

Since its inception the PGA Academy Programme has hosted 13 workshops and educated 153 coaches who between them have delivered over 1300 coaching sessions to blind and disabled golfers within the UK.

Dr Handa, whose 25 year support for blind and disabled golf, is founded in his belief in the power of sport, was delighted to see the first workshop being delivered in Wales.

“Sport brings people together and unites communities around the world, so we are proud to see our Programme facilitating the opportunity for blind and disabled golfers to access specialised coaching,” said Dr Handa.

Dr Handa appreciates the support of award-winning PGA tutor Craig Thomas, who as part of the five hour workshop encouraged the PGA pro’s to put theory into practice, as 10 school children from local Maes Ebbw School were given a private lesson.